 Reference Base  Lessons from the introduced black rhino population in Pil... |
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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - South Africa |
| Subject: |
Ecology - Population |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Release in Pilanesberg NP. Range sizes seem to depend on age and sex. Range size was estimated from the area enclosing most sightings, i.e. excluding those outside the usual range of the rhino. Also hills judged to be unusable (too steep, or without the normal food plants) were excluded from home range calculations.
Female ranges were larger on average than male ranges.
Adult females gave 10% to 60% range overlap.
Sub-adult females range more widely than adult. Once they approach adulthood, they seem to settle down in a smaller, more defined area to have first calf. The range sizes of these young adult females are similar to those of older females.
Adult males over 15 years of age have little range overlap. This points at territory:
Territoral behaviour of adult males:
Only one mature male occupies a given range
Males demarcate the territories by urinating and scraping dung piles
Fighting is a major cause of death among male rhino.
The male range is keyed to permanent water supplies.
Subadult and young adult male ranges overlap those of adult bulls. The young males (up to age 8) are tolerated by mature bulls.
Males from 8-10 yrs old and onwards, they wandered further afield than before, their ranges still overlapping each other and those of old bulls. It is supposed that by this age the males still have not established their home range or territory.
Home range sizes
In Pilanesberg independent subadults female 63 km? male 35 km?
Young adults female 48 km? male 36 km?
Adults Female 52 km? male 28 km?
In other reserves, not adjusted for age or sex:
Ndumu GR 8.65 km?
Weenen NR 10.00
Sam Knott GR 11.54
Shamwari GR 15.00
Mkuzi GR 24.00
Lapalala GR 40.00
Itala GR 49.00
Waterberg Plateau NP 60.00
Etosha NP 60.00
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